Backpacking Is Life: Ultimate Travel Guides, Tips & Itineraries

Start here

If you are new here, start with these guides. They cover the basics, help you avoid common mistakes, and make the rest of your planning much easier.

First trip

First-Time Backpacking Guide

Use this first if you have never done a proper backpacking trip before and want to avoid the expensive beginner mistakes.

Read the guide

Backpacker moving through a station while planning a route

Route planning

3-Month Southeast Asia Route

A practical starting point for planning a longer trip through Southeast Asia, with route order, pacing, and key stops mapped out clearly.

Open the route

Choose a topic

Whether you are choosing a destination, sorting out the basics, or comparing longer-stay options, these are the best places to start.

Scenic backpacking destination landscape

Destinations

Find where to go next

Country and region guides to help you decide where to go, how long to stay, and how to shape the trip.

Browse destinations

Travel planning setup with map and passport

Plan your trip

Sort flights, transport, visas, packing, and accommodation

Flights, transport, visas, packing, and the practical details that are easier to sort before you leave.

Open trip planning

Backpacker moving through a busy market on a budget

Budget travel

Stretch your budget without wrecking the trip

Daily costs, route trade-offs, cheap transport logic, and the practical choices that matter when money is tight.

Open budget guides

Digital nomad

Compare cities and long-stay setups

City comparisons, budgets, remote-work trade-offs, and long-stay planning for trips that blend travel and work.

Open digital nomad guides

Where are you going?

Start with the main regions and countries below to find the guides most relevant to your trip.

Latest Guides

The latest transport guides, route breakdowns, and trip-planning articles from Backpacking Is Life.

Do Australians Need a Visa for Bali / Indonesia in 2026?

Australians do need a visa for Bali and Indonesia in 2026 in most normal tourist cases. Here is the current e-VOA and VOA setup, what it costs, how long it…
Best Travel Debit Card for Bali / Indonesia for Australians (2026): ATM Fees, Cash & FX Compared

Bali is more card-friendly than many parts of Indonesia, but Australians still need the right setup for ATM withdrawals, cash-heavy spending, and low-fee foreign transactions.
Gyeongju Vegan Guide 2026: Best Vegan Restaurants, Temple Food, Where to Stay & Trip Tips

A practical vegan guide to Gyeongju, South Korea, with the restaurants worth planning around, where to stay, how to get there, and the small details that make the trip easier.
Best eSIM for Thailand (2026): Tested & Compared for Speed, Value, and Ease

Thailand is one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia to use a travel eSIM, but the best pick depends on whether you want the cheapest small-data plan, unlimited browsing,…
Best eSIM for China 2026: Saily vs Airalo vs Yesim Tested (VPN Included)

Land in Beijing or Shanghai with Google Maps and WhatsApp already working. The 3 best China travel eSIMs — Saily, Airalo, and Yesim — all bypass the Great Firewall by…
Busan Vegan Food Guide 2026: 15+ Best Plant-Based Restaurants (With Prices)

Complete Busan vegan guide 2026: 15+ restaurants from Michelin-starred ARP to Korean grandma’s home cooking. Temple food ₩8,000-13,000, self-serve Korean BBQ, cafes, markets. Updated prices, locations & insider tips.